Multiple casting and finishing machine for stereotype printing plates



Oct. 18, 1932. A, w WOOD 1,883,221

MULTIPLE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Original Filed July 9. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l [Fire/Mar b'/lfy 17. M36 1%0d Oct. 18, 1932. H. A. w. WOOD 1,883,221

MULTIPLE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOR STEHEOTY PE PRINTING PLATES Original Filed July 9, 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1932. H A w, WOOD 1,883,221

MULTIPLE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Original Filed July 9, 19261 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 179/25 14 Me M00 fl w/ Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. wrsn WOOD, on NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WOOD NEWSPAPER MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA MULTIPLE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Application flled July 9, 1926, Serial The principal objects of this invention are to provide a construction by which the fullest utility can be obtained from the different elements of a stereotype producting machine. In other words the casting and the finishing parts of the machine are utilized more fully than they have been heretofore. One finishing machine is used in conjunction with two casting machines, resulting in the production of all the plates in the same time that has been possible heretofore with two complete casting and finishing machines. The invention is not limited to the use ofv two casting machines, but a larger. number can be combined with a smaller number of finishing machines- This invention permits a reduction in floor space required and furthermore an arrangement of the parts by which in certain stereotype plants, what is practically a double machine can be installed in a triangular space in which it has been possible heretofore to install only a single machine. The invention also involves other improvements as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan of an arrangement whereby two casting sections, that is two complete casting machines, cast the plates in vertical position, and deliver the plates horizontally to a single swivelled finishing machine or unit in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of these casting units showing the finishing machine partly in central section;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the delivery end of the finishing machine with parts in section; Y r

v Fig. 4 is a plan partly in section showing in greater detail a construction by which the finishing machine is operated, with certain modifications not illustrated in the first three figures; I

Fig. 5 is a plan of a modified arrangement, iarrying out the same principle and shown diagrammatically, in which the invention may be applied to three casting boxes delivering to one finishing unit; and

Fig. 6 is a plan of another modification of this later feature.

No. 121,403. Renewed June 11, 1932.

In a stereotype plant in which a stereotype plate is cast and finished in an apparatus with one casting unit and one finishing unit, the

.finishing unit is idle practically one-half of the time even if the casting unit is being operated as fast as possible. It is obvious therefore that the finishing unit is not used to its fullest extent because it is capable of handling more plates than the casting machine is capable of furnishing. To obviate this difficulty I multiply the number of casting units which cooperate with a smaller number of finishing units and thus introduce savings in the particulars mentioned above.

Referring to Fig. 1 I show a furnace 10 provided with two pumps 11, the details of which need not be described, as any suitable pump can be used. Each one is operated independently of the other by a controlling lever 12. Each one delivers through separate spouts 13 to a casting mold.

In this case I have shown two casting machines of well known construction in which, as shown in Fig. 2, the casting is made in a vertical position in a back 14 and then delivered in horizontal position on a core 15, both of which are supported by a frame 16. Any ordinary type of casting device may be employed.

The new relationship consists in providing two of these casting devices, of this type or any other, arranged in fixed position with their axes at an acute angle with each other. By that I mean that when the plates are delivered on the core 15 they are delivered toward a common point such as 17 which is in alignment with the axes of the cores 15 when in delivering position.

Now I provide a single finishing machine for taking care of the products of the two casting machines and I operate the casting machines alternately so that the finishing machine can finish one casting and deliver it and then receive the other casting while the first casting machine is being filled with metal and the metal is cooling.

The finishing machine is arranged to swivel on the pivot 17 which preferably is equipped with ball bearings. The finishing machine comprises a base 20 having an arcuate track 21 concentric with and supporting the vertical pivot stud 17. Pivoted on this stud is a frame 22 adapted to swing and provided with two or more radial studs 23, each carrying a supporting roll 2 at the end thereof and resting on the track 21. It will be seen that this frame therefore can swing about the stud 17 and that, as indicated in Fig. 1, it can be brought to register, at each end of the oscillation, with one of the casting boxes on the machine. Each casting box is provided with a latch 25 which engages a stud 26 carried by the finishing machine at the end so that the finishing machine is held in alignment with the casting device for receiving the casting therefrom. The spring yields readily at the start of the reverse motion.

I have not shown any means for delivering the casting as this can be done by the'ordinary hand methods or automatically as maybe desired, or in the case of an inclined machine by gravity.

For the purpose of operating the finishing machine I have shown a motor 30, although of course any desired means can be used for delivering the power. This is geared to a shaft 31 which is geared down in a well known way to the main shaft 33 of the machine. The main shaft, as usual, carries the shaving blade 34 for shaving out the interior of the plate P. From the shaft 33 power is transmitted in a well known way to trimming saws 34* which need not be described in detail.

Also from the shaft 33 power is transmitted through a sprocket chain 35 to a shaft 36 and by beveled gears 37 to a vertical shaft 38. This shaft 38 has a crank arm 39 having a pin 40. The base 20 is provided with a longitudinal radial slot 41 into which the pin 10 projects. Now it will be obvious that by the rotation of the shaft 38 the frame 22 will be oscillated back and forth through a certain arc. It has a slight dwell at each casting position.

The shaving machine is also provided with a cooling saddle 45 in line always with the shaving shaft 33; r

The gears are of such proportion that when the shaving knife shaft 33 makes one complete rotation, the crank 39 makes a half rotation. Since a cycle consists of a full rotation of the shaving knife shaft it will be obvious that the finishing machine will move from one extreme position to another during each cycle of operation and back again during the next. In this way the time consumed for finishing the plate is used for the automatic movement of the finishing machine from one position to another automatically, without any attention on the part of the operator.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown an arrangement coming under the same principle whereby a finishing machine or element can 'be operatedwith three casting boxes.

In case it is desired to install a single unit at first and permit expansion, I prefer to use the form shown in Fig. 5. There are three melting pots 50 and a single pump 11 in each one, delivering through their spouts 13 to three casting boxes 14 when the plant is completed. These three casting boxes deliver their plates to a single finishing machine 22 which swings on a pivot 17 as in the other ,case, but into three different positions. In

pumps 11 therein and the casting and finishing devices exactly as shown in Fig. 5.

Although I have illustrated and described 7 only three forms of the invention I am aware of the fact that other modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but what I claim is:

1. The combination with a finishing machine mounted to turn on a pivot, of a plurality of casting machines, each one arranged in stationary position with its axis in alignment with said pivot to deliver its casting to a finishing machine located in line with 7 the pivot.

2. The combination with a finishing machine mounted to turn on a vertical pivot, of

a plurality of casting machines, each one arranged 1n stationary posltion with 1ts axis in alignment with said pivot so as to deliver its casting in a direction toward said pivot, and means for holding the finishing machine in registration and alignment with each of the'casting machines at different times. i

3. The combination with a pair of casting 4 machines, each having a back in vertical positionand a core adapte'dto turn from a vertical position to horizontal position with the axes of the cores at an acute angle with each 7 other, of a finishing machine pivoted on an axis transverse to the axes of the cores when HENRY A. W'ISE WOOD. 

